Home Office boss Philip Rutnam has quit following a public dispute with Priti Patel.
The senior civil servant plans to sue the government after he became embroiled in a furious row with the Home Secretary.
Sir Philip said there had been an orchestrated campaign against him.
He read a statement on BBC News which said: “I have this morning resigned as permanent secretary of the Home Office. I take this decision with great regret after a career of 33 years.
“I am making this statement now because I will be issuing a claim against the Home Office for constructive dismissal.
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“In the last 10 days I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign.
“It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the Home Secretary.
“This along with many other claims is completely false.”
He added: “The Home Secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office. I regret I do not believe her.”
Sir Philip went on: “The Home Secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office.
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“I regret I do not believe her. She has not made the effort I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.
“Even despite this campaign I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the Home Secretary.
“But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.
“I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts.”
(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Sir Philip’s decision to step down follows news of a row with Patel.
The Home Secretary reportedly demanded the removal of the permanent secretary, who is said to have raised concerns about her behaviour.
According to the Times, which revealed the allegations, multiple sources in the department have accused her of bullying.
The Times reported the row followed a series of demands from the Home Secretary, some of which officials said were “illegal”.
These were said to include questioning why police could not use force against Extinction Rebellion protesters.
Patel is also said to have told Sir Philip to fire director of communications Andy Tighe on Christmas Eve, MailOnline reported.
He allegedly declined to carry out the orders because of the timing.
The Home Office declined to say whether Sir Philip had raised concerns about the minister, whether the minister demanded his removal, whether the claims were being investigated, or whether she had raised the possibility of using force against climate protesters.
However, a spokeswoman for the department said neither it nor the Cabinet Office – which probes breaches of the Ministerial Code – had received a “formal” complaint.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA Union for senior managers and professionals, said: “Sir Philip’s decision to resign and claim constructive dismissal demonstrates once again the destructive consequences of anonymous briefings against public servants who are unable to publicly defend themselves.
“This cowardly practice is not only ruining lives and careers, but at a time when the Home Office is being tasked with delivering a demanding Government agenda on immigration, and preparing for a public health emergency, it has diverted energy and resource in to responding to unfounded accusations from sources claiming to be allies of the Home Secretary.”
Former Transport Secretary and Schools Minister Andrew Adonis offered Sir Philip his backing.
“I have this morning resigned as Permanent Secretary of the Home Office.
“I take this decision with great regret after a career of 33 years.
“I am making this statement now because I will be issuing a claim against the Home Office for constructive dismissal.
“In the last 10 days I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign.
“It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the Home Secretary.
“This, along with many other claims, is completely false.
“The Home Secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office. I regret I do not believe her. She has not made the efforts I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.
“Even despite this campaign, I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the Home Secretary – as requested by the Cabinet Secretary on behalf of the Prime Minister. But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.
“I believe that these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive unfair dismissal, and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts.
“My experience has been extreme but I consider there is evidence it was part of a wider pattern of behaviour.
“One of my duties as Permanent Secretary was to protect the health, safety and well-being of our 35,000 people.
“This created tension with the Home Secretary, and I have encouraged her to change her behaviours.
“I have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands – behaviour that created fear and that needed some bravery to call out.
“I know that resigning in this way will have serious implications for me personally – the Cabinet Office offered me a financial settlement that would have avoided this outcome.
“I am aware that there will continue to be briefing against me now I have made this decision, but I am hopeful that at least it may not now be directed towards my colleagues or the department.
“This has been a very difficult decision but I hope that my stand may help in maintaining the quality of Government in our country – which includes hundreds of thousands of civil servants, loyally dedicated to delivering this Government’s agenda.
“I will make no further comment at this stage.”
Number 10 has been contacted for comment.
More to follow.
